Elliot Olsen, an attorney with the law firm of Pritzker | Ruohonen & Associates, P.A. was interviewed by the Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune regarding the Red Lake School shooting case. The following is an excerpt from the resulting article:

Families of people killed or injured in the 2005 Red Lake school shooting are suing a Bloomington-based environmental consulting firm that sold the school district a crisis management security plan.

Lawyers for the nearly two-dozen families said today that MacNeil Environmental, Inc., failed to create a safe school environment and properly train students, staff and law enforcement about what to do in a crisis situation.

"MacNeil sold a security plan that didn't work," said Elliot Olsen, a Minneapolis attorney who represents Steve Cobenais, one of the most severely injured students. "We intend to show that had MacNeil done its job, these deaths and injuries would have been prevented."

They are also representing a handful of former school employees in three separate lawsuits against MacNeil.

The suits say MacNeil was hired by the Red Lake district in 2002 to create a security plan for the district on the remote Indian reservation in northern Minnesota. The suits specifically mention the March 21, 2005 shootings that left 10 dead - including teenage gunman Jeff Weise.

Weise, 16, killed his grandfather and grandfather's girlfriend at their home, then drove to the school and opened fire, killing a security guard, a teacher and five students before taking his own life .

Olsen said that the company was served with the suits last Friday.

Labels: attorney, Elliot Olsen, Red Lake School shooting

On February 21, 2008, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a voluntary recall of about 52,000 Rinnai Direct-Vent Wall Furnaces, Models RHFE 431 RHFE 556 due to possible carbon monoxide poisoning. Rinnai American Corporation, of Peachtree City, Georgia, has received 11 reports of carbon monoxide leaking from the furnace.

The recall involves Rinnai EnergySaver Direct-Vent Wall Furnaces, Models RHFE 431 and RHFE 556. They are either natural gas or LP gas (propane) fueled. The following model numbers are included in the recall:


The model number is printed on the top of the rating plate located on the right side of the unit. The recall includes only those units manufactured from February 2000 through December 2007. The manufacturing date code is the first four digits of the serial number, written as YY MM, and is located at the bottom of the rating plate.

According to the Rinnai furnace recall announcement, a gasket in the unit can fail, posing a risk of poisonous carbon monoxide gas leaking into the home. Carbon monoxide death or serious injury due to carbon monoxide poisoning may result in actionable product liability, premises liability, workers’ compensation and other claims. A carbon monoxide poisoning lawyer should be consulted regarding liability and compensation in a carbon monoxide poisoning lawsuit.

To contact one of our experienced lawyers, please call toll-free at 1-888-377-8900 or submit the firm’s free case consultation form.

Labels: carbon monoxide poisoning, lawsuit, lawyer

On February 20, 2008, yhe U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a voluntary recall of about 25,000 “Louisville/Davidson” and “Michigan” brand fiberglass extension ladders due to a possible fall hazard. The recalled ladders are Type I, IA, or II extension ladders with fiberglass rails and “D” shaped aluminum rungs. The following models are included in the recall:


According to the Louisville ladder recall announcement, the recall involves only models manufactured from September 2007 through October 2007. The model number and the manufacturing date code are located on the left side rail of the ladders. Ladders with two green dots near the bottom of the left side base rail have already been inspected or repaired and are not included in the recall.

According to the manufacturer, Louisville Ladder Inc., of Louisville, Kentucky, the extension or “fly” section can fail to lock, posing a fall hazard to consumers. Anyone injured on a recalled “Louisville/Davidson” or “Michigan” brand fiberglass extension ladder should consult an attorney regarding a possible product liability lawsuit. If you were injured at work, an attorney should be consulted regarding amounts recoverable under workers’ compensation, product liability, premises liability, and other possible claims. To contact a lawyer at our law firm, please call toll-free at 1-888-377-8900 or submit the firm’s free consultation form.

Labels: ladder fall, ladder recall, lawsuit, lawyer

On February 11, 2008, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the recall of about 2,100 GE gas clothes dryers due to possible electric shock hazard. The recalled gas dryers are 42 inches tall (back with backsplash) and 27 inches wide, and were sold in white. GE gas dryers model number DWXR463GGWW with serial numbers starting with AM, TL, SL, VL, and ZL are included in this recall. To find the model and serial numbers, open the dryer door and look in the upper right corner, in the area that was covered by the door.

According to the GE gas clothes dryer recall announcement, a short circuit in the dryer’s wiring poses a shock hazard to consumers with ungrounded dryers. People suffering electrical shock injuries involving the recalled GE gas clothes may have claims against GE and others under product liability laws. An experienced electrical shock attorney should be consulted regarding liability and compensation for electrical shock injuries.

Labels: attorney, electrical shock, GE recall, lawsuit

Tomorrow, February 20, 2008, the EPA is hosting an interactive forum to discuss the health and environmental risks of nanoscale chemical products. Consumers can ask questions like, "How are the nano chemicals in spray-on suntan lotion affecting my child's brain?" Inquiring minds would like to know.

The interactive forum is at 1 p.m. EDT. It will be hosted by James Gulliford, assistant administrator for Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances.

Questions submitted online will be answered by EPA officials during the one-hour live session and posted to EPA's Web site as a transcript so that others may also benefit from the discussion.
For more information or to receive e-mail alerts on upcoming hosts and topics, visit the Ask EPA page on our Web site: http://www.epa.gov/askepa.

Labels: EPA, nano chemical, toxic substances